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28 Jun 2012

The end of an
era.

Every education
system is different. That of course is a
given. No-one does it “right” according
to everyone else, but in truth, surely, no-one does it “wrong” either. All countries produce intellectuals and
individuals of all levels and all professions, so of course there has to actually
be “something right” that everyone does…it is just different! Part of our
adventure to this part of the world is to expose ourselves and our children to
these differences, and to try to encourage tolerance, understanding and
flexibility in all.

While we are
living here in Jakarta, our children are attending the British International
School. We chose the school on its great reputation and strong swimming
training programme. It also seemed to be the most
“similar” school to what the children were used to at home, in an attempt to
try to keep the upheavals to a minimum, yet try something different.

There are so many differences - some anticipated, some not!! The whole school year is different
to Australia. I hadn’t bargained on
that. Duh!! Our schools in Australia follow
the standard calendar year with school beginning in January or early February,
and finish at the end of the year in early December. Our lovely long summer break of course coincides
with the (Christian) celebration of Christmas, which we can all relax and savour
slowly, and then, of course, the changing of the New Year.
Not so here. Summer in the
Northern Hemisphere of course is in the middle of the year, and the long
“summer break” at this school is the same timing – so yes it makes
perfect sense…but it just feels all wrong! Finishing the school year in June…well,
that’s just “so out of whack” too to this Australian!!

Back home,
primary school goes from Pre-School (or “Prep” as it is now known) up until
Grade 7. High School is then Grade 8 to 12.
Kindergarten or Pre-Prep is an option that a good proportion of families
choose to partake in too, and this year, as the name suggests is the year
before Pre-School. Recent changes are afoot at home (Queensland) with High School to soon
start from Grade 7 and the development of a “Middle School” concept also under
way. None of this had actually been implemented when we left home, and our
eldest daughter was going to just miss out on the new format. Our second
daughter would have schooled under the new changes – so I was prepared for
that, and knew I had a few years “up my sleeve”. When it came to our eldest though, my mind
was still in the “old fashioned” school model mode! Here they start at Foundation Stage 1 (Pre-Prep), FS 2 (Prep) then grade 1 through to Grade 13!!

Starting a new
school here then, my mind just again (you think I’d learn!) automatically applied
the same “old fashioned” thoughts to this new school, and I just assumed that
the same structure would apply here.
Wrong again!!! It hasn’t been until the last couple of weeks, as we have
started to have orientation for high school and “swap days” where the children
spend a couple of days in High School that it has really started to sink in
that our eldest is in fact, really and truly, off to high school next year!
(Cue the “now I feel old comments and thoughts loudly in my head”!)

I know it is
really no different to just going up another year level at school…of course
that was going to happen any way, but there is just “something” a bit more “heavy
duty” about “going to High School”. The
uniform changes. There are the
connotations of the need for more “seriousness” about the education and the
associated processes - the "buckling down". There’s the
importance of the student “succeeding” which then of course will reflect
intensely on their future career choices, and these options of course have
forever life changing impacts – for both student and parents. The higher expectations from the children and
of course the increased maturity of both my daughter and (more worryingly) the
other students she will be able to mix with.
Her peers will now of course range in age up to 17 or 18…a whole new
ball game with interests and habits and what they have access to! Eeeek!! My “baby” is entering the “lion's pit” in
many ways! (Big breaths, big breaths…)

The other night was
the Grade 6 graduation party. (Even that
sounds wrong! To me…you don’t graduate in Grade 6!!) Both parents and students attended. The party really was incredibly well
organized and a huge amount of thought was obviously put into it by the
parent/s who organized it. It was at a
restaurant function room. The
decorations and ambience were perfect…nothing too over the top…just
enough. There were plain helium
balloons, great lighting, great music with a DJ playing, a photo booth, huge
lolly bowls, and even purpose made wall huge hangings declaring the “Class of
2012”. There was a (soft) drinks bar
where parents could also order a harder drink if they chose, and a simple but
really good quality and beautiful tasting hot buffet for dinner. There was even a graduation cake! There were
a couple of simple games for the graduants, a few speeches, many “thank yous”
then lots of dancing! Even the parents got into the dancing! An age-old
favourite conga-line emerged, individuals shone, people sang loudly out loud
and to themselves, got lost in the music and people just got down, boogied and
had a lot of fun! It really was a hoot!

I acquired a whole
different view of my daughter at this event too. She is normally such a serious soul, and is usually very guarded with
me for some reason…not ever really keen to share her real thoughts or have a
chat, or just relax with me sadly. (Teenagers...) But, on this night she really let her hair down
– and I sat and just watched her and her friends in awe. It was just so lovely to see her mixing with
her friends, she relaxed and danced a lot, and she seemed to be just so accepted
and respected by her friends and peers, and she seemed so totally comfortable
with her friends of only a few months, and they with her. To me that just spoke
volumes, about, not only my daughter’s incredible self-confidence, amazing
resilience and ability to adapt to new environments, but also as a testament to
her friends that she has chosen, that they obviously have the very same
qualities.

I know there will
be further struggles and issues (oh, there will be some doozies for sure…don’t
you worry!!), but this night just really reassured me that we as parents, have
obviously managed to instill some very desired qualities in our very capable daughter,
and that she is using them very wisely indeed!

Bring on High
school – she (we) will tackle the “lion pit” head on and very well armed!

Teenagers have issues wherever they are. Being a teenager is all about heightened emotions, I know I have two daughters who have turned out to be wonderful young women, and I am extremely proud of them. Your daughter would be the same person wherever you were, only difference is she has the"you took me away from all my friends" to throw at you on a bad day,lol. I believe living in another country is a wonderful education which promotes tolerance and make children realise everyone is not the same. A great quality to have in life.

Great blog Michelle... rings so true for me too!! I am just not wholly prepared for the mix of all those older children, i think thats what scares me the most! Our BIS has meant that Millie has grown up and awful lot this last few months, more mature, more independent.. not been an easy ride as I am sure you would agree at times but I am very happy that our girls get to grow and mature into wonderful young ladies as they are challenged by new experiences, cultures and people ! :)